Wasps Inverness Creative Academy in Inverness hosts announcement of Scotland’s new chief entrepreneur with Finance Secretary Kate Forbes travelling to the city to reveal that Mark Logan will take up the role dedicated to helping 'enfranchise' people start businesses
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced the appointment of Scotland’s chief entrepreneur – Mark Logan – at Wasps Inverness Creative Academy in Inverness.
The role will see Mr Logan work with agencies, governments, private individuals and entrepreneurs to develop “the best possible conditions” to launch new businesses anywhere in Scotland.
The move is part of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation and will entail the creation of a network of support for start-ups and skills-ups in Scotland aimed at boosting economic growth.
Ms Forbes said: “His job will be to build a network of support for start-ups and skills-ups in Scotland, ultimately to drive economic growth in Scotland – our ambition is to ensure that Scotland’s economy grows faster than it has and we know that high growth businesses will drive high growth in the economy. “
But Mr Logan puts it differently, saying: “I think in this endeavour it is essential we enfranchise the whole population in what we’re doing because otherwise what’s the point?”
He said: “The way I think about it is that every job that exists today, your job, my job, everyone’s job here today, exists because someone started something – we sometimes forget that, starters in our economy and our society are incredibly important.”
Academy CEO Audrey Carlin gave the pair a tour, meeting those occupying space at the facility, which is held up as a potential template for other places in the Highlands.
Mr Logan said: “I think it is a good model and I think in this endeavour it is essential we enfranchise the whole population in what we're doing because otherwise what's the point? Big cities will tend to find their way anyway.
“So we've got to make sure that if you're living in George Street in Edinburgh or in Wick you've got the same opportunities to start companies.
“We've met businesses today that are flourishing with international customers all over the world and they're based here in Inverness and they've never thought that Inverness is a disadvantage for them.”
